Barroso announces new EU Commission line-up

A NEW European Commission team was announced by Jose Manuel Barroso last night, a week after he withdrew the previous line up because of objections from the European Parliament.

Mr Barroso made minimal changes to his 24 member team having forced Italy and Latvia to withdraw their nominees in the last few days. Ireland’s Charlie McCreevy retains his Internal Market job.

They are expected to take up office on November 22, just three weeks later than expected.

Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Frattini will replace Rocco Buttiglione in the Justice portfolio after the philosophy professor’s views on homosexuality and women drew the ire of the Parliament.

The Hungarian nominee, Laszlo Kovacs, goes to Taxation despite his communist background and getting a negative report from the Parliament on his suitability for the Energy portfolio. He replaces the Latvian, Ingrida Udre who was recalled because of fraud allegations and her eurosceptic views.

The new Latvian nominee, Andris Piebalgs goes to Energy.

Mr Barroso meets the leaders of the Parliament’s seven political groups, including Brian Crowley of the UEN, today to discuss the next stage of the process.

Announcing his new team in Brussels yesterday Mr Barroso said he hoped the Parliament will interview the three Commissioners in the coming week and vote the entire Commission through the following week in Strasbourg.

Mr Crowley welcomed the new line up and said he supports a quick approval procedure which should be completed as soon as practical.